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Fateh Sagar Lake

Udaipur's local lake, where the boating is cheap, the street food is excellent, and the evening crowd is families and college students rather than tourists

  • Artificial lake
  • North Udaipur
  • No entry fee
  • October to March best
  • 1 to 2 hours

What makes it special

If Lake Pichola is Udaipur's famous face, Fateh Sagar is where the city actually relaxes. It is the lake locals go to. In the evening, the road along the eastern bank fills up with families, couples, college students, street food vendors selling roasted corn and kulfi, and a general atmosphere that feels more like a city park than a tourist attraction. That is its charm. You come here not for palaces and history but for a boat ride that costs less than a coffee, a walk with the Aravallis behind you, and an evening that feels genuinely local.

The lake was originally built in 1678 by Maharana Jai Singh. About two hundred years later, the earthen dam washed away in floods, and Maharana Fateh Singh rebuilt it in 1888 with a proper masonry dam (called the Connaught Dam, built to mark a visit by the Duke of Connaught). The lake was named after him. It sits to the north of Lake Pichola and is connected to it through the smaller Swaroop Sagar Lake, so when one fills, the other benefits. The Aravalli hills wrap around three sides, and on a clear evening the reflections are sharp and long.

Fateh Sagar has three islands. The largest is Nehru Park, a small public garden with a zoo and a boat shaped restaurant, popular with families. The second island has a public park with a water jet fountain. The third is the Udaipur Solar Observatory, a working research facility that is not open to casual visitors. You can boat around all three but only get off at Nehru Park.

The honest framing

Fateh Sagar is not Lake Pichola. There are no palaces rising from the water, no island hotels, no sunset boat rides with City Palace glowing behind you. If you are in Udaipur for two days and have to choose between the two, do Pichola. But if you have a third evening, or if you are the kind of traveller who enjoys what locals enjoy rather than what tour guides recommend, Fateh Sagar is worth your time. The boating is cheaper, the crowd is more local, and the street food scene along the lake road in the evening is one of the best casual food experiences in the city.

The best time of day is late afternoon into evening. Walk the eastern bank, get a boat ride, eat roasted corn or a plate of Maggi from one of the stalls, and watch the light change on the Aravallis. It is a two hour experience at most, but it is a genuinely pleasant two hours.

Boat ride prices and timings can change between seasons. Confirm at the boating counter on the day you visit.

Quick answers

Is Fateh Sagar Lake worth visiting?
Yes, if you have a spare evening and enjoy local experiences. The lakeside walk, street food stalls, and cheap boating make it a relaxed, pleasant way to spend two hours. It is not Lake Pichola and does not try to be. It is Udaipur's casual, local lake.
Is there an entry fee?
No entry fee for the lake or the banks. You only pay for boat rides (starting from roughly ₹80 to ₹100 per person). Street food is cheap, most items under ₹50.
When is the best time to visit?
Late afternoon into evening. The street food stalls appear around 4 to 5 PM, the light gets warm on the Aravallis, and the lakeside fills up with locals. Morning is good for a quiet boat ride.
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Quick facts

Everything you need to know at a glance.

At a glance

Location
North of Lake Pichola, Udaipur, Rajasthan. About 3 to 5 km from the old city.
Size
About 2.4 km long, 1.6 km wide, max depth ~11.5 metres.
Built
Originally 1678 by Maharana Jai Singh. Rebuilt 1888 by Maharana Fateh Singh after flood damage.
Entry fee
Free. Boat rides paid separately, starting from roughly ₹80 to ₹100 per person.
Timings
Lake accessible roughly 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Boating generally 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM.
Time needed
1 to 2 hours for a walk, boat ride, and street food.
Best season
October to March. Evenings are the sweet spot.
Setting
Aravalli hills on three sides. Three islands: Nehru Park, fountain park, and Udaipur Solar Observatory.

On the ground

Mobile network
Works fine around the lake.
Food
Street food stalls along the eastern bank every evening. Roasted corn, kulfi, Maggi, chai, pav bhaji. Cheap and good.
Parking
Available along the lake road. No formal charges in most spots.
Washrooms
Available near the boating point and at Nehru Park.
Photography
Good light in the evening. The Aravallis as a backdrop photograph well.
Walking
The eastern bank has a paved lakeside road. Flat, easy, and pleasant.

Seasonal weather

  • October to March
    28°5°
    Winter
  • April to June
    42°25°
    Summer
  • July to September
    35°22°
    Monsoon

Suitable for

  • Couples — suitable
  • Families — suitable
  • Seniors — suitable
  • Solo — suitable
  • First-timers — with some care
  • Pet-friendly — with some care

How to reach Fateh Sagar Lake

3 approach routes, with seasonal access.

  • From Udaipur old city

    Year round
    Distance
    About 3 to 5 km
    Time
    10 to 15 minutes
    Road
    City roads. Auto, Ola, or taxi.

    Take an auto or Ola/Uber from anywhere in the old city. The lake is an easy ride. Tell the driver Fateh Sagar boating point or Fateh Sagar Pal. Roughly ₹50 to ₹100.

  • From Udaipur City Railway Station

    Year round
    Distance
    About 6 km
    Time
    15 to 20 minutes
    Road
    City roads.

    Auto or taxi, roughly ₹100 to ₹150.

  • From Saheliyon Ki Bari (walking)

    Year round
    Distance
    About 1 km
    Time
    10 to 15 minutes on foot
    Road
    Walkable city road.

    Saheliyon Ki Bari is about 1 km from the lake. You can walk between the two in 10 to 15 minutes. A natural pairing for the same afternoon.

Best time to visit

Season by season, so you can plan around the weather rather than hope.

  • Recommended

    Winter

    October to March

    Best time. Cool evenings, full lake, and the street food scene at its peak.

    Day temperature
    15 to 28°C
    Lake level
    Good to full
    Evening vibe
    Best. Cool weather, full stalls, active crowd.
    Crowds
    Moderate (mostly locals)

    Comfortable temperatures for walking the lakeside and boating. The evening street food scene is at its best when the weather is cool. The lake is usually at good levels after the monsoon. November to February evenings are the sweet spot.

  • Summer

    April to June

    Hot. Only visit in the late evening when the heat drops.

    Day temperature
    30 to 42°C
    Lake level
    Can be low
    Comfort
    Evening only
    Crowds
    Low during day, moderate evening

    Too hot for a comfortable lakeside walk during the day. Evenings cool down slightly but the heat lingers. Lake levels may drop. If you visit in summer, come after 5 PM only.

  • Monsoon

    July to September

    The lake fills up and sometimes overflows. Green hills, but rain can limit boating.

    Day temperature
    25 to 35°C
    Lake level
    Full. Possible overflow.
    Boating
    Can be paused in heavy rain
    Highlight
    Lake overflow during heavy monsoon

    The monsoon fills the lake to its capacity. When Fateh Sagar overflows, the water cascading over the dam is a sight locals come to watch. The green Aravallis behind the lake are at their most vivid. But the street food scene is limited during rain, and boating may be paused. Late September is a good window when the rain tapers off and the lake is at peak level.

Things to see & do

5 things worth your time at Fateh Sagar Lake.

  1. Boat ride on the lake

    15 to 30 minutes

    Regular boats, motor boats, and speed boats are available from the boating point on the eastern bank. Regular boat rides cost roughly ₹80 to ₹100 per person, motor boats around ₹150 to ₹200, and speed boats around ₹200 to ₹250. The ride circles the lake, passes the three islands, and lasts 15 to 30 minutes depending on the type. Cheaper and more relaxed than the Lake Pichola boat ride.

  2. Walk the lakeside road and eat street food

    1 to 2 hours

    The eastern bank of the lake has a paved road that fills up with walkers, families, and couples every evening. Street food stalls appear as the sun goes down. Roasted corn, kulfi, Maggi, chai, pav bhaji, and local snacks. The food is cheap and the vibe is relaxed. This is the best part of a Fateh Sagar visit.

  3. Visit Nehru Park island

    30 to 45 minutes

    The largest island on the lake, reachable by boat. A small public garden with a zoo (basic, mostly for kids), a boat shaped restaurant, and walking paths. Pleasant for 30 to 45 minutes with children. Not a major attraction on its own.

  4. Walk up to Moti Magri (Maharana Pratap memorial)

    30 to 45 minutes

    A hilltop memorial to Maharana Pratap of Mewar, right next to Fateh Sagar. A bronze statue of the warrior on his horse Chetak sits at the top with views of the lake. The climb is moderate. Worth a quick visit if you are already at the lake.

  5. Watch the sunset

    30 minutes

    Sunset from the lake's western or northern bank, or from a boat on the water, catches the Aravallis in warm light. Not as dramatic as the Lake Pichola sunset, but more peaceful and less crowded. Good enough, and you will probably have it mostly to yourself.

Know before you visit Fateh Sagar Lake

The practical bits, from people who have been.

This is the second lake, not the firstPichola first, Fateh Sagar second. But the second is worth it if you have time.

If you only have time for one lake in Udaipur, do Lake Pichola. The palaces, the island hotels, and the sunset boat ride are the city's main draw. But if you have a spare evening, Fateh Sagar gives you something Pichola does not: a local, relaxed experience with street food, cheap boating, and a crowd that is mostly families and college students rather than tourists.

The street food scene is the highlightRoasted corn, kulfi, Maggi, and chai along the lake road every evening.

The road along the eastern bank of the lake comes alive every evening from about 4 to 5 PM onward. Vendors set up stalls selling roasted corn, kulfi, Maggi, pav bhaji, chai, and local snacks. The food is cheap (most items under ₹50) and the atmosphere is more like a city park than a tourist spot. This is genuinely one of the best casual food experiences in Udaipur.

Boating is cheapStarting from roughly ₹80 per person. Much cheaper than Lake Pichola.

Regular boat rides cost roughly ₹80 to ₹100. Motor boats and speed boats are more but still well under ₹250. Compare this to the ₹400 to ₹700 range at Lake Pichola. The ride circles the three islands and lasts 15 to 30 minutes. It is a pleasant, no fuss experience.

Who it suitsGreat for anyone who enjoys a local, relaxed evening. Not for heritage seekers.

Anyone who enjoys a relaxed evening, street food, and a less touristy vibe. Families with children (Nehru Park has a small zoo). Couples looking for something quieter than the old city. It is flat, accessible, and easy. Seniors can walk the paved lakeside road comfortably. Not ideal if you are looking for heritage or history. The lake does not have palaces or architectural landmarks.

Nearby attractions

Other places worth the detour.

  • Moti Magri (Maharana Pratap Memorial)

    500 m · Adjacent

    A hilltop memorial to Maharana Pratap of Mewar, right next to the lake. A bronze statue of the warrior on his horse Chetak, with views of Fateh Sagar below. Worth 30 minutes if you are already here.

  • Saheliyon Ki Bari

    ~1 km · 5 min auto

    A small ornamental garden built for the queen's attendants. Fountains, marble elephants, and a lotus pool. About 1 km from the lake. Pleasant for 30 to 45 minutes.

  • Lake Pichola

    ~3 km · 10 min auto

    The main lake of Udaipur with palaces, island hotels, and the famous sunset boat ride. Connected to Fateh Sagar through Swaroop Sagar. The must do lake experience.

  • City Palace

    ~5 km · 15 min auto

    The largest palace complex in Rajasthan, on the banks of Lake Pichola. Most visitors combine it with the Lake Pichola boat ride on a separate day.

  • Sajjangarh Monsoon Palace

    ~5 km · 20 min drive

    A hilltop palace above Udaipur with panoramic views. About 5 km from Fateh Sagar. The drive passes through the Sajjangarh Biological Park.

Our packages with Fateh Sagar Lake

Curated trips that include a visit to Fateh Sagar Lake.

FAQ

Is there an entry fee for Fateh Sagar Lake?

No. There is no entry fee to visit the lake or walk along the banks. You only pay for boat rides and activities. Boating starts from roughly ₹80 to ₹100 per person for a regular ride.

What are the boating timings?

Boat rides generally operate from about 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. The lake itself is accessible until about 6:00 PM. These timings can change, so confirm at the boating counter on the day you visit.

How much does a boat ride cost?

Regular boat rides cost roughly ₹80 to ₹100 per person. Motor boats are around ₹150 to ₹200. Speed boats are about ₹200 to ₹250. Rides last 15 to 30 minutes. These prices are updated periodically.

What is the best time of day to visit?

Late afternoon into evening. The street food stalls set up around 4 to 5 PM, the walking crowd arrives, and the light on the Aravallis gets warm. This is when the lake feels most alive. Morning is quieter and good for boating without crowds.

How far is it from the old city?

About 3 to 5 km from the old city, depending on your starting point. About 6 km from Udaipur City Railway Station. Auto or Ola/Uber will cost roughly ₹50 to ₹100. The lake is easily reachable.

Is Fateh Sagar better than Lake Pichola?

They are different experiences. Lake Pichola has palaces, island hotels, and the famous sunset boat ride with City Palace. It is the must do. Fateh Sagar is quieter, cheaper, more local, and better for a casual evening with street food and a walk. If you have time, do both. If you must pick one, pick Pichola.

Is it good for families with kids?

Yes. The lakeside walk and street food are family friendly. Nehru Park island has a small zoo that children enjoy. Boating is calm and safe. There is nothing risky here.

Is it accessible for seniors?

The eastern bank has a paved road that is easy to walk. The area is flat. Seniors can enjoy the walk and the street food without any difficulty. Boat boarding involves stepping into the boat, which may require help for those with mobility issues.

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Written by
Travel Coffee EditorialDestination Research
Last reviewed
July 2026